1
as in curious
interested in what is not one's own business
as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questioning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pulling
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
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2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
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as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prying
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Adjective
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying
Adjective
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Folks may be curious to know who is replying to their content and investigate what your business is all about.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Now that final number being below the opening week totals for Chromatica is a bit curious – especially considering there seems to be more passion for the music of Mayhem versus its predecessor – but still nothing to scoff at.—
Katie Atkinson,
Billboard,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Half of the shark detections occurred during the day, a time when beaches are typically busy with human activity.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
His eyes widen, a grin breaks out across his face, and for a second, Graham looks like a cross between a kid on Christmas morning and the world’s busiest man finally catching his breath.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The man was brought back to Oakland for questioning and was to be booked at Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder.—
Harry Harris,
The Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Just whittling down a potential pool of hundreds of jury candidates is expected to last as many as three days at the end of April, the judge said, before the final panel undergoes voir dire questioning, scheduled to begin the first few days of May.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Mullin described Trump, who is notorious for casting a wide net when taking advice, as endlessly inquisitive and said their conversations take place day or night.—
David Sivak,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
13 Mar. 2025
-
An inquisitive mindset facilitates open communication, accelerates innovation and nurtures a culture empowered by respect and a love of learning.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That fact is never mentioned in the episode, and footage of Barrientos-Quintana’s arrest and interrogation shows him with a full head of black hair.—
Jessica Lussenhop,
ProPublica,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Episode 1 concentrates on Jamie’s arrest and interrogation, while Episode 2 follows a pair of detectives (Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay) into Jamie’s school to hopefully get some leads in the case.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Groups who may feel targeted by Trump rhetoric and policies – trans people, in particular, may feel less safe and fear intrusive inspections and questions at the border.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
-
These professionals will likely ask you about your personal and financial circumstances before entering an agreement, which might seem intrusive.—
Kirk Pepi,
Sacramento Bee,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Featherstone was the first high-level producer to publicly note that the BBC has several shows stuck in a post-greenlight funding cavern, during an appearance at the UK parliamentary inquiry into high-end TV and film in January.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2025
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While lawyers for the state agency that oversees the medical board collected records from the hospital under subpoena, including medical reviews that criticized Weiner’s care, that inquiry languished at the staff level, according to one current and one former board member.—
J. David McSwane,
ProPublica,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Luckily, the neighbor's dog didn't consider her digging to be nosy.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
21 Nov. 2024
-
Provincial judgments and resentments peek their nosy heads out, then close their shutters again; intimacy and passive aggression babble like intersecting creeks; everyone interrupts everyone, and on they all tumble together.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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